Method and apparatus for adding commercial value to traffic control systems

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and methods suited to add commercial value to traffic control systems. A computer device is provided that allows connections with a computer network, external sensors or external devices, and a traffic control system. Combinations of the features of the connected components results in a variety of commercially valuable implementations.

This application is a continuation of non-provisional patent applicationSer. No. 10/077,741, filed Feb. 14, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,554.This application also claims the benefit of provisional application No.60/269,209, filed Feb. 15, 2001. Each of the above-identifiedapplications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to adding commercial value to trafficcontrol systems, and, in particular, to traffic control systems thatincorporate the use of computer technology and computer networks.

2. Background of the Invention

Keeping the ever-increasing traffic flowing is one of the biggestchallenges in our modern world—especially in highly populated, urbanregions. Stop-and-go traffic significantly increases e.g. air pollution,energy consumption, and is prone to increase the number of accidents.

A common method to solve this problem is to build more and wider streetsthat can handle more volume. But since land is limited and the number ofcars keeps growing, this can only be a temporary solution. In addition,each new street produces new intersections that slow down traffic, whichis especially true for medium and smaller streets in city areas. Awell-known method to help keeping the traffic flowing in these areas isthe synchronization of traffic lights. Decreasing or eliminating theneed for stops while traveling on main roads can significantly decreaseoverall travel times, air pollution, energy consumption, etc. Thismethod is applied and has proven to be effective all over the world—evenusing the common proprietary technology in relatively small areas.

2. Prior Art

Several prior art patents address different aspects of optimizing theflow of traffic by applying a variety of methods and varioustechnologies. For example, it is known to make use of fuzzy logic orexpert systems to determine the distribution of traffic or dangerwarning information. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,058.

It is also known to control traffic and traffic signals via neuralnetworks. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,459,665; 5,668,717.

It is also known to control traffic and traffic signals on a local levelin conjunction with an area-wide traffic control system. See, e.g., U.S.Pat. No. 5,257,194.

It is also known to use cameras to monitor traffic violations and recordtraffic statistics. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,432,547; 5,041,828;5,734,337.

However, even if such technology can successfully be applied, the addedtechnology generally increases the cost of traffic control systems. Thisposes a challenge to the mostly public owners of traffic control systemsthat rely on limited budgets and non-profit business models.

None of the prior art inventions address the aspect of adding commercialvalue to traffic control systems e.g. in order to generate the fundsneeded to provide and maintain them. In particular, none of the priorart inventions address the aspect of using traffic related data totrigger the display of commercials to motorists.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

The present invention introduces technology and methods to allow currentand upcoming traffic control systems to generate revenue. Investing thisrevenue into traffic optimization technologies could help to solve theabove-described problems caused by slow traffic. The generated revenuecould also be used for further research into traffic optimizationtechnologies and the like that helped to increase the quality of live ofvirtually all citizens.

SUMMARY

The present invention introduces an apparatus and methods suited to addcommercial value to traffic control systems. A computer device isprovided that allows connections with a computer network, externalsensors or external devices, and a traffic control system. Combinationsof the features of the connected components result in a variety ofcommercially valuable implementations. For example, one embodiment ofthe present invention is to connect an electronic display to thecomputer device and display commercials to motorists whereby the trafficcontrol system is used to input traffic status data. Another embodimentis to in addition connect a digital camera to the computer device andrun image recognition software on the computer device to distinguishbetween different types of motorists. This allows performingsophisticated advertisement strategies tailored to specific targetgroups that further the commercial potential of the describedimplementations.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the invented computer device with a connection to anetwork, an external sensor, an external device, and a traffic controlsystem.

FIG. 2 illustrates one implementation of the invention showing thecomputer device with connections to a network, an electronic display,and a traffic control system. The traffic control system controls atraffic light. The traffic light and the electronic display are deployedin close proximity so that both are visible to a motorist passing by thetraffic light.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the computerdevice based on traffic context data as referred to in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates another implementation of the invention showing thecomputer device with a connection to a network, an electronic display, adigital camera, and a traffic control system. The traffic control systemcontrols a traffic light. The traffic light and the electronic displayare deployed in close proximity so that both are visible to a motoristpassing by the traffic light. The digital camera records and sendsdigital images of the motorist to the computer device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the computerdevice based on traffic context data as referred to in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another implementation of the invention showingthe computer device with a connection to a network, three electronicdisplays, and a traffic control system. The traffic control systemcontrols three traffic lights. Each of the traffic lights is deployed inclose proximity to one of the electronic displays so that both arevisible to a motorist passing by each of the traffic lights.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the computerdevice based on traffic context data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred Embodiment

The present invention can be applied in a variety of ways to addcommercial value to traffic control systems. In this specification, theterm traffic control system will be used to refer to systems thatcontrol traffic by means of traffic lights, electronic displays, and thelike. The term commercial value will be used to refer to tangible andintangible value that is generated as a result of a profit orientedmethod or application.

The following paragraph shall help to build some general understandingof the main vision behind the present invention: particularly in theU.S., commercials provide a significant source of revenue for amultitude of businesses. At the same time, most traffic related assetsare owned and maintained by public institutions that rely on limitedfunds. If these public institutions could leverage the commercial valueof their traffic-related assets, it allowed them to invest much morecapital into the improvement of traffic-related problems that affectvirtually all citizens. At the same time, businesses got access to ahuge new electronic commercial media network that would allow a wholenew dimension of dynamic, local advertisement opportunities. The presentinvention provides the following solution to make that vision reality:

A computer device in accordance with the invention can be connected witha traffic control system as shown in FIG. 1: A computer device 6comprises a central processing unit 8 that is connected with a trafficcontrol system 20, a computer network 2, an external device 14 and anexternal sensor 16.

There are various ways to deploy the computer device. For example, thecomputer device can be deployed attached to the traffic control systemor to a component thereof. In this case it could use the traffic controlsystem's existing real estate, electrical power infrastructure, or evenan existing computer network connection that the traffic control systemmay feature. In another example, the computer device can also bedeployed stand-alone and connected to the traffic control system wiredor wirelessly. Yet in another example, the computer device could beintegrated into an electronic display mounted in view of motoriststraveling along a route controlled by the traffic control system.Further deployment scenarios of the computer device will be obvious tothose skilled in the art.

The term connection or electronic connection will be used to refer toany wired or wireless means suited to allow at least one of thefollowing:

-   -   a. communication between two electronic devices, networks, or        systems;    -   b. connected electronic devices may also allow being at least        partly remote-controlled via the connection;    -   c. a connection can also be used to merely transfer electricity        from one electronic device to another.

The term communication means will be used to refer to any hardwareand/or software solution, interface, combination or application thatenables the communication between at least two electronic devices.

The term computer network will be used to refer to the Internet, anintranet or any other kind of network that allows the communicationbetween computers.

The term external devices refers e.g. to

-   -   a. A digital camera, able to capture images, transform these        images into a digital data format and provide these data to        other devices;    -   b. An electronic display, suited to display digital content;    -   c. A wireless voice and data service repeater, for example, as        part of a cellular network;    -   d. A short-range transmitter or receiver that, for example,        allows approaching police or rescue vehicles to send a signal to        the short-range receiver to remote-control the status of traffic        lights so that the vehicles can move more quickly; or, the        vehicles could receive signals from the short-range transmitter        that contain data suited to calibrate their global positioning        system receiver; or, motorists could receive local advertisement        information with in-vehicle receivers suited to receive such        data;    -   e. At least a component of an electronic toll collection        systems, especially the sensors that allow the unique        identification of vehicles;    -   f. An emergency phone, which can be connected with the computer        device to allow e.g. voice-over-IP communication.

The term external sensors refers e.g. to temperature, wind, proximity,and traffic telemetry sensors, that can provide telemetry data toconnected devices.

The term sensor device refers to a sensor that features at least abuilt-in central processor unit.

The connection between the computer device and a traffic control system(see FIG. 1, 18) may be merely an electric connection that e.g. allowsthe computer device to detect the state (“RED”/“GREEN”) of a trafficlight connected to the traffic control system. This is certainly truefor older traffic systems that do not feature an electronic processor orelectronic connections with other devices. For traffic control systemsthat do feature electronic connections, the computer device could forexample use Universal Serial Bus (USB) technology or any other data busor interface technology, suited to connect to such traffic systems.

The connections between the computer device and external sensors orexternal devices could for example also use Universal Serial Bus (USB),or any other data bus or interface technology that allows to connect atleast one external sensor or external device.

The combination and connection of components shown in FIG. 1 allows avariety of new functions to both, the computer device and the trafficcontrol system. For example, the computer device gains access to trafficrelated data and existing real estate and infrastructure of the trafficcontrol system, whereas the traffic control system e.g. can beremote-controlled and maintained via the connected computer network.Also, the external sensors or external devices connected to the computerdevice as well as the connected traffic control system can get access tothe computer network via the computer device, which would also allow forbeing at least partly remote-controllable via the computer network.

Operation

FIG. 2 illustrates one implementation leveraging a subset of the abovementioned functions that add commercial value to traffic control system44: computer device 42 is connected with computer network 40, trafficcontrol system 44, and electronic display 48. Traffic control system 44controls traffic light 46. Traffic control system 44 continuallycommunicates the status of traffic light 46 to computer device 42. Inthis example, the communicated status shall be either “RED” or “GREEN”.

Motorist 60 travels inside of vehicle 62 on the route controlled bytraffic light 46. In this implementation, electronic display 48 ismechanically attached to traffic light 46 so that motorist 60 is able tosee its content when waiting in front of traffic light 46. FIG. 3illustrates how computer device 42 uses the communicated status data toonly show a commercial on electronic display 48 if the status of trafficlight 46 is “RED” and motorist 60 has to wait in front of traffic light46.

Businesses could, for example, rent display time from the owner oftraffic control 44, paying only for display times with audiences basedon the data that traffic light 46 recorded.

Since computer device 42 is connected to computer network 40, thecommercial can be provided to computer device 42 in a digital format vianetwork 40 comprising e.g. HTML, digital video, a series of digitalimages, or vector data. This allows for much faster and richer contentchanges than any poster-based advertisement. In case electronic display48 uses real estate and existing power infrastructure of traffic controlsystem 44, installation costs can be minimized.

FIG. 4 illustrates another implementation leveraging a subset of theabove mentioned functions that add commercial value to traffic controlsystem 44: computer device 42 is connected with computer network 40,traffic control system 44, electronic display 48, and digital camera 50.Traffic control system 44 controls traffic light 46. Traffic controlsystem 44 continually communicates the status of traffic light 46 tocomputer device 42. In this example, the communicated status shall beeither “RED” or “GREEN”.

Motorist 60 travels inside of vehicle 62 on the route controlled bytraffic light 46. In this implementation, electronic display 48 ismechanically attached to traffic light 46 so that motorist 60 is able tosee its content when waiting in front of traffic light 46.

Computer device 42 has access to different editions of a commercial,entitled “FORD”, “ROLEX”, and “STANDARD”, each of which shall be shownto a specific type of motorists identified by the type of vehicle that amotorist is traveling in.

FIG. 5 illustrates how computer device 42 uses the communicated statusdata of traffic light 46 and the input of digital camera 50 to detectwhen vehicle 62 is waiting in front of traffic light 46. Digital camera50 will record and feed digital images of vehicle 62 to computer device42. Computer device 42 runs an image recognition software applicationthat is able to distinguish between the following types of vehicles:“FORD”, “BMW” and “OTHERS”, based on the images recorded by digitalcamera 50.

This could for example be accomplished by comparing a databasecontaining vehicle shape information with the images recorded by digitalcamera 50. In a more sophisticated implementation, the image recognitionsoftware application could analyze images of the license plate ofvehicle 60 to identify the license plate number of vehicle 60. This datacould be used to retrieve the type of a specific car, for example viamatching the license plate number with data of a database connected viathe computer network, the database holding license plate-vehicle typerelations.

Upon recognition of a specific type of vehicle, computer device 42 willdisplay the corresponding commercial. As soon as traffic control system44 reports a “GREEN” status of traffic light 46, computer device 42 willstop displaying the commercial and record the type and elapsed time ofthe shown commercial.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another implementation leveraging a subset of theabove mentioned functions that add commercial value to traffic controlsystem 44: computer device 42 is connected with computer network 40,traffic control system 44, and three electronic displays 70, 72, and 74.Traffic control system 44 controls three traffic lights 80, 82, and 84.Traffic control system 44 continually communicates the status of trafficlights 80, 82, and 84 to computer device 42. In this example, thecommunicated status shall be either “RED” or “GREEN”.

Motorist 60 travels inside of vehicle 62 on the route controlled bytraffic lights 80, 82, and 84. In this implementation, electronicdisplays 70, 72, and 74 are not mechanically attached to traffic light46. However, motorist 60 is able to see the contents of the electronicdevices 70, 72, and 74 when waiting in front of the traffic lightscontrolled by traffic control system 44.

Computer device 42 has access to different editions of a commercial,entitled “FORD 1”, “Ford 2”, and “Ford 3”, each of which shall be shownto motorists 60 in a sequence when waiting in front of the trafficlights controlled by traffic control system 44.

FIG. 7 illustrates how computer device 42 uses the communicated statusdata of traffic lights 80, 82, and 84 to detect when vehicle 62 iswaiting in front of one of these traffic lights. Computer device 42 willthen display the corresponding edition of the commercial so thatmotorist 60 will see the different editions of the commercial in thedefined sequence as he travels along the route controlled by trafficcontrol system 44. Computer device 42 will stop displaying an edition ofthe commercial and record the type and elapsed time of the showncommercial when the communicated status data of the traffic lights 80,82, and 84 is “GREEN”. This implementation allows displaying sequentialeditions of commercials that are known to be remembered more thanstand-alone commercials.

Description—Additional Embodiment

By connecting wireless voice and data service repeaters as externaldevices to each of a plurality of computer devices according to FIG. 1and then using the real estate and electronic infrastructure of theconnected traffic control systems to mount the repeaters, the followingbusiness benefits can be achieved:

-   -   a. provide bandwidth for wireless services like cellular        networks in highly populated areas without the need for        acquiring real-estate and electric infrastructure,    -   b. use the network access of the computer device for        communication between the repeater device and its provider, e.g.        for remote-maintenance and diagnosis.

Further implementations and benefits of the invention will be obvious tothose skilled in the art.

CONCLUSIONS

The inventions set forth above are subject to many modifications andchanges without departing from the spirit, scope or essentialcharacteristics thereof. Other embodiments of this invention will beobvious to those skilled in the art in view of the above disclosure.Thus, the embodiments explained above should be considered in allrespect as being illustrative rather than restrictive of the scope ofthe inventions as defined in the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for adding commercial value to a traffic control system,comprising: a central processing unit; an image sensing device coupledto said central processing unit, said image sensing device beingoperable to record an image of a vehicle proximate to a traffic lightand to forward said recorded image to said central processing unit; andan electronic display coupled to said central processing unit, saidelectronic display being configured to display an advertisement that isidentified by said central processing unit upon analysis of saidrecorded image.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said centralprocessing unit executes an image recognition software application thatdistinguishes between types of vehicles.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein said image recognition software identifies a type of vehicleusing a database containing vehicle shape information.
 4. The apparatusof claim 2, wherein said image recognition software identifies a licenseplate number used for identifying a type of vehicle.
 5. A method foradding commercial value to a traffic control system, comprising:recording an image of a vehicle that is proximate to a traffic light;determining a type of said vehicle based on analysis of said recordedimage; identifying a commercial based on said determined type of saidvehicle; and displaying said identified commercial on a display screennear said traffic light.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein saiddetermining comprises analyzing a shape of said vehicle in said recordedimage.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein said determining comprisesdetermining a type of said vehicle based on an identification of alicense plate number.
 8. An apparatus for adding commercial value to atraffic control system, comprising: a central processing unit; a sensingdevice coupled to said central processing unit, said sensing devicebeing operable to detect when a vehicle is positioned in front of atraffic light; and an electronic display coupled to said centralprocessing unit, said electronic display being configured to display anadvertisement when it is determined that a vehicle is positioned infront of said traffic light.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein saidsensing device is a camera.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein saidadvertisement is selected based on an identified type of said vehicle.11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said central processing unitrecords an identification of said displayed advertisement and acorresponding length of time that said advertisement is displayed. 12.The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said central processing unit furtherrecords an identified type of said vehicle.
 13. A method for addingcommercial value to a traffic control system, comprising: detecting apresence of a vehicle in front of a traffic light; displaying anadvertisement on a display screen near said traffic light upon saiddetection; and recording an identification of said advertisement alongwith a measured time during which said advertisement is displayed. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein said detecting comprises detecting usinga camera.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising identifying anadvertisement to be displayed based on a determined type of saidvehicle.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said recording furthercomprises recording a determined type of said vehicle.
 17. An apparatusfor adding commercial value to a traffic control system, comprising: acentral processing unit coupled to a network; and an electronic displaycoupled to said central processing unit, said electronic display beingconfigured to display an advertisement that is received by said centralprocessing unit from said network, said advertisement including imagedata.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said network is theInternet.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said advertisementincludes HTML.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said advertisementincludes digital video.
 21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein saidadvertisement includes digital images.
 22. The apparatus of claim 17,wherein said advertisement includes vector data.
 23. An apparatus foradding commercial value to a traffic control system, comprising:communication means operably connected to the central processing unitpermitting communication between the central processing unit and acomputer network; communication means operably connected to the centralprocessing unit permitting communication between the central processingunit and a component of a wireless voice or data service system; andelectronic connection means for connecting the apparatus to the trafficcontrol system, wherein the apparatus provides said component of awireless voice or data service system with access to the computernetwork.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said component is arepeater.